Five students receive Farm Bureau Foundation scholarships

Five Bureau County students, including Reece Pierson (from left), Beau Jensen, Stephen Corban, Jedediah Metzger and Ryan Devore (not pictured) were named recipients of Farm Bureau Foundation Scholarships during this year's Beef and Ag Days. (Photo contributed)

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PRINCETON — Five Bureau County students will receive financial assistance from the Bureau County Farm Bureau Foundation to help cover costs associated with continuing their education. The Foundation Board of Directors has named high school graduates Reece Pierson of Walnut and Beau Jensen of Tiskilwa, as well as college students Jedediah Metzger of Princeton, Stephen Corban of Princeton and Ryan Devore of Princeton as the 2008 recipients of the Bureau County Farm Bureau Foundation Scholarship.

For more than 13 years, the Bureau County Farm Bureau Foundation has made a financial commitment to assisting individuals interested in pursuing a career in agriculture. To date, almost $21,000 has been provided in scholarships to individuals who are Bureau County Farm Bureau members or their dependents. The Foundation funding is supported by private contributions, including those from Bureau County Farm Bureau members.

Pierson, the son of Ron and Cari Pierson, is a 2008 graduate of Bureau Valley High School. He plans to attend the University of Illinois to study farm management. He is an Illinois State Scholar, a member of the National Honor Society and Academic All-Conference Basketball, and Voice of Democracy winner.  He has been active in 4-H and FFA, Boy Scouts, Eagle Scouts and the German Club. He has been involved in the community by helping at Beef and Ag Days, serving as the Toys for Tots Chair, shoveling Church Sidewalks to name a few. After graduating from the University of Illinois he plans to get an off-the-farm job to make money and gain experience so that he can purchase his dad’s farming operation.

Jensen, the son of Scott and Valerie Jensen, is a 2008 graduate of Princeton High School. His goal is to attend four years of college to study Agriculture Production and Management. He earned a spot on the high honor roll for the past four years, has been active in FFA and 4-H serving in officer positions.  He has also been involved in the community by helping at Tiskilwa’s Bible School, Beef and Ag Days, Homestead Festival, Bureau County Ag Fair, along with other volunteer efforts. During college he plans to work through internships in order to experience different types of farming enterprises. After college he would like to work on the family farm or for a local farmer to gain more experience. Eventually he would like to take over and farm his parent’s ground.

Metzger, the son of Barb and John Metzger, has completed his first year at the University of Illinois. His major area of study is undecided with plans to transfer to agri-business. He is a 2007 Bureau Valley High School graduate received the Business Award, President’s Award and VFW Citizens Award.  He was also named as a Prairie State Scholar. He was active in a variety of clubs in high school such as FFA, the German Club, National Honor Society and the Varsity Club. He has also been involved in the community through Bible study and Sunday school along with Boy Scouts and Bureau Valley Youth Connection.

Corban, the son of Kenn and Lora Corban, has completed his first year at the University of Illinois. His major area of study is agricultural engineering. The 2006 Princeton High School graduate was honored on the dean’s list at the University of Illinois for the past three semesters. He was named as the Outstanding New Member of ASABE 1/4 Scale Tractor Design Team (Illini Pullers), won the Mother’s Association Book Award and was named as a James Scholar. He is active in many agricultural clubs such as Illini Pullers and American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE). He was also very active in high school through FFA and 4-H. Community involvement included the First Presbyterian Church, Tripoli Quad Cities Rocket Club and Homestead Festival. He was also a 2006 Bureau County Farm Bureau Foundation scholarship recipient.

DeVore, the son of Steve and Lonna DeVore, is a 2006 graduate of Princeton High School. He currently attends South Dakota State University where his major area of study is wildlife and fisheries sciences with a range science minor. He is involved in the Wildlife and Fisheries Club and the Farmhouse Fraternity. While at Princeton High School he served at the FFA Chapter Reporter and Sentinel. He was also a member of the National Honors Society. He attends the Community Bible Church of Wyanet, has helped the Bureau County Pork Producers at the Homestead Festival and has helped with hunter safety training among other things.

The scholarship recipients were formally recognized at Princeton’s Ag and Beef Days on July 18.